What do I think of this?
I watched this year's MGP from Norway, and as the credits rolled at the Oslo Spektrum, the audience floor was so awash with bodily fluids people were skidding on their way out. The expectation (and more besides) was there from the start as it dawned on these Eurosong put-upons that their time had again arrived. 14 years since the last Nordic triumph and we've got a live one (©Aliens). It's Alexander Rybak's birthday on the Wednesday before the show, and he's hot favourite to take the title back to Belarus Norway. It's a knockabout fiddle number with lots of gambolling and merriment. He's a bit too goggled eyed to get my vote, but this is still my top tip for the title. Nice chap seemingly too.
KPI's - natural fiddling, naturally. much movement

Alexander Rybak, representing Norway with his Fairytale, is a true wonderkid. He's written his own song, will be starring in a movie this summer and got the record amount of votes in the national selection!

Alexander Rybak was born in Minsk (Belarus) on the 13th of May, 1986. He grew up at Nesodden just outside the Norwegian capital Oslo.

Alexander has played violin and piano since he was five years old, he also composes his own music and sings. Alexander has performed with artists like Arve Tellefsen, Morten Harket, Hanne Krogh and Knutsen & Ludvigsen.
In 2006 he won the Norwegian talentshow Kjempesjansen with his own song Foolin. Alexander has performed with one of the world's most celebrated violinists, Pinchas Zukerman, he has won Anders Jahres Culture Price and he's been the concertmaster for Norway's largest symphony orchestra for youths, Ung Symfoni, in Bergen.

He also played the role of the fiddler in Fiddler On The Roof at Oslo Nye Theatre (2007) and has a role in the forthcoming movie Yohan - Child Wanderer (August 2009).
Alexander Rybak is an artist you will be hearing more from in 2009!

Fairytale

Years ago, when I was younger
I kinda liked a girl I knew
She was mine and we were sweethearts
That was then, but then it's true

I'm in love with a fairytale
Even though it hurts
'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind
I'm already cursed

Every day we started fighting
Every night we fell in love
No one else could make me sadder
But no one else could lift me high above

I don't know what I was doing
When suddenly, we fell apart
Nowadays, I cannot find her
But when I do, we'll get a brand new start

I'm in love with a fairytale
Even though it hurts
'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind
I'm already cursed

She's a fairytale, yeah...
Even though it hurts
'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind
I'm already cursed